Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation

What is Spray Polyurethane Foam?
Types of SPF
Spray Foam comes in two forms:
Closed-cell foam (sometimes known as two-pound or medium density foam) has a
high R-value of around 6 per inch. It acts as an air and vapor barrier. It also provides
structural enhancement.
Open-cell foam (sometimes known as half-pound or low density foam) has an
R-value of 3.6 per inch, and may act as an air barrier. It also acts as a noise absorber.
The Only Complete Insulant
A building functions to protect its occupants against the exterior environment.
Insulation and air-tightness are two of the most important components of a
building’s protection against outside conditions.
Building components interact as a system to control the flow of heat, air, moisture and
sound into and out of a building. SPF is the only complete insulant that controls
against these elements. With SPF, building owners have lower utility and maintenance
bills, better health and a more comfortable interior environment.
SPF as a Thermal Insulant
• High R-value
• Does not settle or sag
with time
• Reduces or eliminates thermal
bridging effect
“Air infiltration can account
for 30% or more of a home’s
heating and cooling costs.”
U.S. Department of Energy
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) is an insulation product that is
spray-applied in situ at a building site. Two liquid components,
MDI (A) and polyol blend (B) are mixed under pressure and
sprayed onto a roof or wall cavity. The reacting liquids expand
and solidify into a foam matrix creating a seamless seal. SPF
adheres well to the area it is applied to, providing an air barrier
that prevents thermal leaks.
SPF as an Air Barrier
• Low air permeance
• Completely seals
wall penetrations
• Prevents drafts and hot-spots
Refrigeration 8%
Appliances 8%
Electronics 9%
SPF as a Moisture Barrier
• Prevents moisture penetration
• Eliminates dewpoints in the
wall cavity
• Controls mold problems
Homeowner Energy Cost Allocations
Lighting 11%
Other 8%
Water Heating
12%
“Moisture poses the biggest
threat to structural integrity
and durability, accounting
for up to 89% of damage in
building envelopes”
M.T. Bomberg and W.C. Brown,
Construction Canada, 35(1), 1993
SPF as a Sound Barrier
• Air seals to absorb sound
at varying frequencies
• Dampens sound vibrations
transmitted through
solid materials
• Facilitates walls and ceilings
with STC 50, NRC 95
Space Heating
and Cooling
43%